Poppy Tooker

Louisiana Eats: Uplifting Food Memoirs

By Poppy Tooker • Dec 14, 2020

One of the most popular forms of literature today is the memoir. These days, folks with barely three decades under their belt are writing their memoirs, but on this week's show, we hear from four wise women who relate a lifetime of memories along with valuable lessons learned in theirs.

We begin with Southern baker and activist Lisa Donovan, whose book, Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger is a raw, honest, and brave telling of a life that will leave you hungry for more. In her memoir, Lisa explores how reclaiming her narrative is not merely an act of ego – but one of solidarity, universality, and inspiration.

Then, we speak with award-winning writer Ann Hood. Her writings explore the human condition, frequently drawing upon her own life experiences, including her journey with grief following a terrible family tragedy. While none of her previously published eight books fall into the food genre, her most recent, Kitchen Yarns, explores her life through what she was eating (and cooking) during the most salient times.

Grape Expectations

By Poppy Tooker • Nov 28, 2020

The holidays may look different this year, but one thing is certain: a little wine is sure to make them just a little brighter. On this week’s show, we dig deep into the proverbial wine cellar for some gems that will inform, advise, and get you ready to pop those corks.

Hot Air Frying With A Cold Brew

By Poppy Tooker • Nov 21, 2020

On this week’s show, we analyze the air fryer – a popular cooking gizmo that uses hot air to cook everything from French fries to chickpeas to cinnamon rolls. This countertop contraption promises to replicate all the crispy results of deep frying, but without the fat, and has become a home cook's
must-have – depending on who you talk to.

Sicily, Louisiana Style

By Poppy Tooker • Nov 14, 2020

If you're a Louisiana native with a distinctly Italian last name, you've got lots of company here. Since the late nineteenth century, more families of Sicilian descent have called Louisiana home than anywhere else in the world except Sicily. This is a topic that has fascinated Loyola history professor, Justin Nystrom – enough to compel him to record their history and influence here in his 2018 book, Creole Italian: Sicilian Immigrants and the Shaping of New Orleans Food Culture.

What's The Beef With Meat?

By Poppy Tooker • Nov 9, 2020

To eat meat or not to eat meat? That is the question. On this week’s show, we examine sustainable farming and butchery practices and the ethical constraints of consuming meat in the 21st century. We begin with James Beard award-winning food writer Corby Kummer, who weighs in on the topic of meat and morality.